Andrew Pollack
| Andrew Pollack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Andrew Scot Pollack 1965/1966 (age 52–53)[1] Oceanside, New York, U.S. |
| Residence | Coral Springs, Florida, U.S. |
| Organization | Americans for Children's Lives and School Safety |
| Movement | Meadow's Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Julie Phillips Pollack |
| Children | 3, including Hunter Pollack |
Andrew Scot Pollack is an American school safety activist. His 18-year-old daughter Meadow Pollack was killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on February 14, 2018.[2]
Pollack is credited with helping to pass the "Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act" (Florida Senate Bill: 7026).[3] He has met with President Donald Trump and his cabinet, Florida governor Rick Scott, and many lawmakers.[4] Pollack is actively fighting to increase more federal funding to increase school security in every school across the nation.[4] He believes that bulletproof glass, metal detectors, enhanced door lock systems, ID checkpoints, and "school marshals" can help prevent school shootings.[5]
Meadow Pollack
Meadow Jade Pollack (October 5, 1999[6] – February 14, 2018) was the daughter of Andrew Pollack and a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who was murdered in the shooting.[2] Meadow was shot four times and had attempted to avoid the shooter while struggling to get into a classroom. Teachers and students were not able to open the classroom door. Her father told CBN that as the shooter returned, Meadow covered another student in an attempt to protect them. She was then shot five more times, killing her and the other student she shielded, Cara Loughran, a freshman.[7]
Meadow's death prompted her father to found Meadow's Movement, a movement fighting for increased school security to prevent future school massacres.[8]
Meadow planned to attend Lynn University[9] in the fall and spoke about becoming a lawyer.
Activism
On February 21, 2018, Andrew and his two sons attended a White House listening session hosted by President Donald Trump that consisted of siblings and friends of slain victims along with survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. He spoke extensively on the topic of school security, claiming that schools do not have the same level of security as airports, stadiums, and embassies. Pollack raised that the September 11 attacks happened once and that measures were put in place to prevent it from ever happening again, also stating "There should have been one school shooting, and we should have fixed it!"
Pollack has been praised for his different approach at tackling the issue of school shootings in the United States rather than gun control by meeting with lawmakers and other officials on increasing school safety measures. On April 20, 2018, Pollack launched his nonprofit organization Americans for Children's Lives and School Safety (CLASS).
References
- ↑ "Ex-LIer whose child was shot feels 'empowered'".
- 1 2 Levenson, Eric; Sterling, Joe. "These are the victims of the Florida school shooting". CNN. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- ↑ Grinberg, Emanuella; Jones, Athena; Sung, Carolyn. "Florida lawmakers pass bill that would allow school staff to carry guns". CNN. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- 1 2 "Father of school shooting victim says he's on a mission to improve school safety". ABC News. 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- ↑ Wilson, Kirby. "Parkland victim's father: School safety now, gun control later". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- ↑ "Meadow Jade Pollack Obituary - North Lauderdale, FL". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
- ↑ "Father of Florida School Shooting Victim: 'Top Priority Should Be School Safety'". Christian Broadcasting Network. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- ↑ Meadow's Movement (2018-03-07), Let's Fix It - Meadow's Movement, YouTube, retrieved 2018-03-30
- ↑ Chasmar, Jessica (2018-02-16). "Grieving Parkland father ripped for 'Trump 2020' shirt: 'Blood on his hands'". The Washington Times.